"$100 Billion Investment in TSMC... Grumbling Voices Within Taiwan"

Criticism has emerged from various sectors in Taiwan regarding the announcement of new investment by TSMC, the world's largest semiconductor foundry company, in the United States.

According to Taiwanese media such as United Daily News and China Times on the 5th, Hong Shuzhu, former Kuomintang chairman and leader of the main opposition party, strongly criticized the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government over this investment announcement.

At the TSMC investment announcement press conference, Wei Zhejia, Chairman of TSMC (left), and Donald Trump, President of the United States EPA
Photo by Yonhap News

He wrote on Facebook the day before, "TSMC leaving under pressure from the United States is a card used by the ruling DPP government to curry favor with the U.S.," adding, "It is a betrayal of the Taiwanese people and a sellout of the Republic of China (Taiwan)."

Regarding TSMC Chairman Wei Zhejia’s announcement at the White House that the company will invest $100 billion (approximately 145 trillion KRW) in the U.S., he criticized it not only as a loss of money and technology but also as "the moment Taiwan’s right to survival was sold."

Taiwanese media reported concerns that TSMC’s advantage in advanced processes could soon disappear. While this investment announcement may help ease pressure on Taiwan from the second Trump administration, it could pose a threat to Taiwan’s technological superiority in the future.

Taiwanese experts emphasized that the key to this investment announcement lies in whether a research and development (R&D) center will be established. If advanced process R&D work is also handled there, it is analyzed that Taiwan’s 'Silicon Shield' through its semiconductor industry will lose its strength in the future.

Former Minister of Economic Affairs, Inchiming, predicted that TSMC’s investment plan would cause financial pressure for building factories in Taiwan, a reduction in production facilities, and a decrease in surplus profits. He explained that this would cause losses in both national security and economic security aspects.

Earlier, on the afternoon of the 3rd (local time), TSMC Chairman Wei met with President Trump at the White House and held a joint press conference, announcing a future investment of $100 billion in the United States.